Arch support



`D. GRANT ARCH s'UfPoRT May 4 1926.

Filed Jan. '7. 1.922 vfg sheets-511591; 1

May 4 l l l-;583,684

D. GRANT ARCH SUPPORT Filed Jan. 7. 1922 2 Shets-Sheet 2' @WM/W- INVENTOR A'ri'onNEY Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED sTArEs rerum orrics.

ARCH sUrroaT.

Application filed January 7, 1922. Serial No. 527,739.

and an object of the invention is topro-.vide

an arch support which is constructedo Spring O1' .resilient Sheet metal embodying suflicient flexibility to permit it to flex under the weight of the user and with the-f move-v ments of the foot of the user, and further to construct the -parts of .the arch support in such manner that the movement and leX ing o f the parts .thereof Vwill be augmented, to provide 4an efficient arch .support which will conform to, the .shape of the foot at all times for properly supporting fallen or defective arches.

Other 4objects or.y the invention will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top, planof the improved arch support.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the .arch support. Y Fig. 3 is a vertical section -through the arch support taken on the line lf-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa perspective view of one of ythe sections of the arch ysupporting :plate struc-.

ture.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ,of the yother section or plate of the arch .supporting plate structure.`

Fig. 6 is .adetail perspective view of a Clip .and .bearing member .embodied ,in the arch support.

Fig. f7 `is a ydetail plan illustrating the manner of engagement between the bearing member andthe ends of the Alexible or resilient arch supporting platestrueture. Referring more part" larly to the drawings.,

the improved arch support lconipris es a resilient base plate 1 which is preferably constructed yoi: sheet metal, and is shaped to fit snugly within the shoe of the wearer.`

The body ,plate 1 is provided with transverse siete-.2 and it stl-Seeed reiste.; "the-Per:

jat the ends of the slot 3.

tions l .of the plate ydirectly .outwardly of the slots are offset upwardly, above theupper flat surface of the plate 'to provide openings through which the tongues .5 of the spring plate 6, and the tongues 7 of the spring plate 8. extend. are 'riveted to the undersurtaces-of the body plate :l and .they .have @Standing bearing Projections 10 formed thereon which fit struck portions 4. A reinforcing rivet 11 extends through the bearing projection 10, plate V9 and the yupstruclrI portion .4, as

clear-ly shown in Fig. 2 yofthe ,drawings to securely attach thebearing portion` 10 t and plate 9 to the base plate-1. V'Each oft 4the bearing vmembers1(lis"provided `with la curved bearing edge 12 `which is adapted to engage in the curved recesses 13 formed in the tongues 5 and 7. Thev plates 6 `and 8 which are'constructed of resilient or spring sheet metal are bowed longitudinally as clearly shown in the drawings, so as to lit snugly beneath the arch of the wearers foot, and these plates are splitat each end, as shown at 14 to respectivelyform the tongues 5 and 7 and also to-.provide hearing extensions -15 which enga-ge in latwise relation with each o therand .the base platel In 'the usual. manner of assembling the `arch support, the

plate 8 ispositioned adjacent the base plate 1 with the vtongues l thereonl inserted through the slots V2 and 3 after which the plate 6` is placednpon .the `plate 8 with the vtongues 5 thereon extending A i'.hrough the slots2 and l3 vand, in -engage'ment with lthe; `bearing members 10 and also With certain of ythe tongues 15 engaging the corresponding rtongues "1 5 on `the ,plate 8. f The arcuate recessesV 13 .and `the ,curved bearing edges .12 will-permit a pivotal movement of the plates 6 and8 relative to each other and relative t0 .the .base 131ml While .the resiliener .of .the said Plates will .permit silexins ofthe plates towards 0r frein the :base

niet@ 1- The niet@ Sillas an' upwardly and outwardly curving .lateral extension 11"( Vformed thereon'which has an indentation 18 thereon and which is further curved andV .Shaped to {Qgf the est @if-the We.. .er

snugly' ft .against .the .inner Sid@ 013158.91 .plates y9' `snugly beneath A the undersurfaces of the up- V ymi of the foot. Greater flexibility is afforded the extension 17 than its inherent resiliency will permit, by means of the r-ecesses or slots resilient sheet metal has a relatively small,

upwardly and outwardly curving side extension 20 formed thereon which is shaped to snugly lit against the outer side of the foot adjacent the arch, and the edge of the plate'opposite the edge upon which the extension 17 is formed is cut away as shown at 2l to increase the flexibility of the plate and decrease the weight of the arch support. Upon the weight of the wearer being applied to the resilient plates 6 and 8 during walking, the extensions '17 and 2O on these plates will iiex inwardly upon the downward flexing of the main body portions of these plates causing the extensions to move inwardly and maintain proper engagement with the foot of the wearer at all times. If it is so desired, it is to be understood that the plate 6 may be used independently of the plate 8 provided the conditions of the foot of the wearer do not need the plate 8.

The flexing of the plates 6 and 8 and their extensions 17 and 2O caused by the walking of the wearer of the arch support will have a massaging effect upon the foot of the wearer which will cause healthy respiration of the foot, and warm or heat the foot, keeping the feet warm in cold weather.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that an arch support has been provided in which various adjustments of the arch supporting plate structure may be obtained by variation of the plates 6 and 8, or by variation of the relative positions of these plates to accommodate the requirements in each individual or particular case, and that an arch support has been provided in which a maximum flexibility and supporting features are provided, the said arch support being designed to yield in all directions and maintain snug fitting supportingengagement with the foot of the wearer, and it is to be understood that the metal parts may be incased in a suitable cover as shown in my co-pending application tiled Septemter ei, 192i, Serial No. 502,939.

- It is, of course, to he understood that the invention may be constructed in other manners andthe part-s associated in other relations and, therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner except as set forth in the. claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: Y c

l. In an arch support, a base plate, and a yieldable arch supporting plate structure comprising a 'plurality of independent plates separably connected to said base plate for yieldable and oscillatory movement relative to the base plate. v

2. In an arch support, a base plate provided with spaced slots, and a. resilient arch supporting` plate formed with tongues for insertion in the slots and a tongue pressing upon the top of the support, said arch supporting plate having a lateral extension formed integral therewith.

3. In an arch support, a base plate having spaced slots therein, clips secured to the base plate under said slots, bearing extensions on said clips having curved bearing surfaces, and a resilient arch supporting plate having tongues thereon for insertion through said slots, said tongues being provided with arcuate cut outportions for receiving and abutting said curved bearing portions.

' 4. In an arch support, a hase plate, and a yieldable arch supporting plate structure comprising a pair of independent plates each separably connected to the base plate for yieldable and oscillatory movement relative to the base plate, and extensions formed upon the side edges of said independent plates and curving outwardly and upwardly therefrom.

5. In an arch support, a base plate, and a yieldable arch supporting plate structure comprising a pair *of independent plates each separably connected to the base plateV for yieldable and oscillatory movement relative to the base plate, and extensions formed upon the side edges of said independent plates and curving outwardly and upwardly therefrom, one of said extensions being provided with an inwardly curved portion.

6. In an arch sup-port, a base plate provided with spaced slots, a resilient arch supporting plate having splits extending inwardly from each end at spaced points and forming tongues for insertion through said slots to separably connect the resilientarch supporting plate to the base plate, and an extension formed uponfand curving upwardly and outwardly from one side edge of the arch supporting plate.

7. In an arch support, a base plate provided with spaced slots, an arch supporting plate structure formed of independent/resilient plates each having ton ues on their ends for engagement througi said slot-s, clips attached to the undersurfaces of said base plate and forming pockets for receiving said tongues, and bearing surfaces on said clips, said tongues being provided with cut out portions forming bearing surfaces for engagement with the clip carried bearing surface.

8. In an arch support, a base plate provided with spaced slots, an arch supporting f ends for engagement through said slots, clips attached to the undersurfaces of said hase plate and forming pockets or receiving said tongues, bearing surfaces on said clips, said tongues being provided with ont out portions 'forming bearing surfaces for engagement with the clip carried bearing with the upper surfaces of said base plate. 10

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture.

DAVID GRANT. 

